A Strigoi doesn't have to be alone

Chapter 2

Marianne's Point of View

As the cab left the Doyle's household, Marianne let her mind wander once more about what was in store to her near future.

Mr. Stoker seemed well enough, mostly very collected. When they had the shaking issue she had noticed that he had more emotions on him than what he let on. He had seemed insecure and almost shy. Again in her room while talking to her about the effects of light on him, he had sounded a little bit surprised that she took the trouble of asking him about it.

Marianne had hope that soon enough they would get to know each other better.

Reaching her new home, she let the cab man drop her things in the hall before paying and closing the door. As her hand left the knob and she locked the front door with the spare key Mr. Stoker had lent her, she turned around to see a figure spying her down the obscured corridor.

"Mr. Stoker?"

"You mustn't have sent the cab man away so soon. Now how will you carry your trunk to your room?" His voice came to her, confirming that it was indeed her employer.

" I shall take some of the weight out first. I thought you would prefer it this way. No cab man taking a look around on your house." She hinted at his privacy policy delicately.

Once more she would swear he had chuckled at her answer.

"I do prefer it this way." He finally agreed. "But there was no need of you carrying things by hand up and down the stairs just for the sake of my privacy."

"Nonsense. I'm still young enough to manage it. It's almost dinner time." She decided upon changing subject. "Would you like me to prepare you something first, before taking my things away?"

"Why not? Go ahead. Whenever it's ready you may call me on my office."

Marianne obliged and walked through the dark corridor towards the kitchen. She passed by him, once again smelling his lotion. It didn't seemed so strong now, after a few hours in its company.

In the kitchen she struggled to find where the food was kept and all the utensils but once she did, she lighted the fire and start working with efficiency. At some point she thought she had listened some odd noises coming from other part of the house but she dismissed it as just Mr. Stoker walking around.

When the meal was finished, she served it in the dining room and went to call Mr. Stoker. She found him at his desk, without his glasses on.

"Dinner is served, Sir."

"Thank you, Mrs. Coatlane. It would be all for now."

"Do you want me to serve you at the table?"

"Not this time. Use the time to make yourself at home. I expect you to serve me some tea later, here."

"Certainly. With your permission..."

As she got down the hall she imagined how many travels would she require before the trunk got any lighter. It was with huge surprise that she didn't found it where it was supposed to be. Going upstairs, she found it by her room's door.

She smiled openly, now that she was alone. The poor man had carried her trunk up the stairs just to help her out. It must have been quite an effort as he hardly looked like the athletic type. Should she go and thank him? Or would he prefer a more masked form of gratitude?

Deciding that the best way of going was to unpack her things first as he had requested her to do, she put all her efforts to it.

Before long her things were out, the drapes were open and candles were lighted. She also lighted two other candles in the corridor so she could see at least a little bit more in front of her. The moon was already rising, and a silver light filled her room. Thinking that it could do no offence, she reached to open also the drapes of the remaining windows down the corridor, giving the whole floor some much needed light. It looked a bit creepy, but it was also comforting in a way. After all, if the sunlight couldn't be welcomed with open arms at least the moonlight could.